Last time in the Championship

[Bill 1,788]

2014/15

5th

p13 pts 22 F22 A12

2010/11

4th

p13 pts 23 F19 A15

so both times when were promoted we were on -

less points

less goals

and a lower league position

than we are now

2016/17

2nd

p13 pts 27 F26 A18

[morty 0]

Sense of self entitlement and expectations have clearly changed.

[Fiery Zac 1,066]

But we''re letting in too many goals so these stats are worthless...other than the one that says we''ve let in too many goals.

[Bill 1,788]

ah yes, I forget

it''s goals against that count at the end of the season

NOT points

thanks for reminding us all

[FenwayFrank 2,717]

It''s clean sheets that count, I wish we were Ipsw*ch

[93vintage 16]

If someone puts the kettle on, Hogesar might be persuaded to do a tea leaf reading.

[BroadstairsR 2,273]

"I wish we were Ipswich."

That''s the conundrum. Man for man we have a better defensive line-up than they have. Even the much maligned Russell Martin is constantly preferred to Berra in the Scotland defence, and rightly so IMO. Whilst Pinto for Murphy is a no-brainer and by all accounts their left-back Knudson is hopeless.

Yet they have the second best defence in the league and are as tight as a what''s it''s what''s it when it comes to giving goals away.

The fact that they play awful football, can''t score and will likely flounder in the nether regions of the Championship this season doesn''t disguise the fact that we could do with Mick McCarthy as our defensive coach, or that he could teach Alex Neil a trick or two.

[It's Character Forming 1,204]

Well, in 10/11 we''d just been promoted back up from L1 and clearly there was a settling in period back in the Champs.  It''s credit to the manager and the squad that they were able to kick on from there to end up second.

 

And in 14/15, our form up to Christmas was up and down, which ended up getting the manager sacked (after losing to Preston in the cup).  Our form then improved under AN but we ended up 3rd and to go up via the playoffs is always a bit of a lottery.

 

Right now we are well placed, but anyone who''s not concerned about us dropping points from winning positions is being naïve IMO.  We all know we should have got at least a point at Newcastle which would put us still top instead of 2nd.  And we should have seen out the game at Fulham. 

 

It''s not rocket science.  If we could shut up shop effectively when we are two goals in front, we''d be coasting this league.  Failing to do so may cost us come the end of the season.

 

The challenge for AN is simply whether he can get the team to improve from here in which case it''ll be fine.  We have got the squad to do it. 

 

This messageboard tends to veer between the extremes, the reality this season so far has been generally we''re doing well, but conceding goals when we''ve been in control of a game has been a worry.  This is nothing new !

[AJ 1,359]

I think this time around we have a much stronger squad - maybe with the exception of lacking a good 3rd striker.

Therefore, having spent those years in the Prem, we have to have higher expectations to match the quality within the squad.

Last time around, as a supporter (and probably tinted by that play off final win of course) I was happy to be in the play-offs positions at this point. This season, I think we''d be a bit unhappy if we weren''t in the top 2 or 3 given the depth and quality in our squad.

Interesting to compare, not if only to see how our expectations have changed so much since the days of Worthy - Lambo and McNally really did so much for this club to change that, and hopefully this will be another successful stint in the Champ come the end of the season to keep us moving forwards.

[Ginja 43]

Just to add to OP''s point

2003/04 - 18/10/2003

Pos 8  Norwich City  Pld 13  W6  D4  L3  GS18  GC14  GD+4  Pt22

[Bill 1,788]

[quote user="BroadstairsR"]"I wish we were Ipswich."

That''s the conundrum. Man for man we have a better defensive line-up than they have. Even the much maligned Russell Martin is constantly preferred to Berra in the Scotland defence, and rightly so IMO. Whilst Pinto for Murphy is a no-brainer and by all accounts their left-back Knudson is hopeless.

Yet they have the second best defence in the league and are as tight as a what''s it''s what''s it when it comes to giving goals away.

The fact that they play awful football, can''t score and will likely flounder in the nether regions of the Championship this season doesn''t disguise the fact that we could do with Mick McCarthy as our defensive coach, or that he could teach Alex Neil a trick or two.[/quote]That is absolute bollox, if only that you don''t seem to grasp the correlation between not letting goals in and not scoring.If we played the way MM gets the binners to play we would be where they are in the league ... with a queue of players wanting out in January.We cannot hold on to a lead ... apart from the nine or so games that we have !If you want to see the binners ''great'' tactics watch thisclickgo to 3m 25sec

[i,coopius 0]

Ginja - sweet we''ll be getting in players of the quality of huckerby and crouch anytime now on loan. oh no wait we can''t because things are different from 13 years ago.

[hogesar 10,765]

Whatcha sayin'' Vintage? :)